The 01/1031 prototype of the new J-10B was unveiled in March 2009, 3 months after its maiden flight in December 2008. [Picture courtesy: Chinese Military Aviation]

With its advanced “fly-by-wire” system, J-10 may have better aerodynamic performance compared to the Russian Su-27, which still uses the conventional control method. [Picture courtesy: Chinese Military Aviation]

J-10B also features a J-11B style IRST/LR and a wide-angle holographic HUD. [Picture courtesy: Chinese Military Aviation]

J-10B Vigorous Dragon is thought to be comparable to American F-16E/Block 60. [Picture courtesy: Chinese Military Aviation]

J-10B Vigorous Dragon may serve only as a testbed for various advanced technologies adopted by the 4th generation J-20 currently under development at CAC. [Picture courtesy: Chinese Military Aviation]

J-10 bears resemblance to two prior fighters, the Chengdu J-9 and the Israeli IAI Lavi, both of which were cancelled. The Lavi had a similar canard-configuration to the J-10, while the J-9 preceded the Lavi. [Picture courtesy: Chinese Military Aviation]

J-10B much improved variant features a DSI/bump engine inlet which not only cuts weight but also reduces RCS, after a similar design was first tested onboard FC-1/JF-17. [Picture courtesy: Chinese Military Aviation]

As per the official Chinese position, General designer Song Wencong denied the J-10 was a copy of the Lavi, and claimed the indigenous J-9 was inspiration for the J-10's external design and aerodynamic configuration. [Picture courtesy: Chinese Military Aviation]

MAWS sensor can be seen underneath the parachute boom. A similar system was tested onboard FC-1/JF-17. RAM coating is also expected in certain areas such as engine inlet and wing leading edges to reduce RCS. [Picture courtesy: Chinese Military Aviation]

Chengdu J-10 (Jian-10, or FC-20 in its export name) is a single-engine, all-weather, high-performance multirole fighter aircraft capable of both air-to-air and air-to-ground roles. [Picture courtesy: Chinese Military Aviation]